Fifty Plus (50+) - What are the stages of a bike purchase?

You know how there are stages of death and dying. It seems like there might be stages of a new bike purchase. I don't have the stage yet, but guessing it's something like this:

1-- no way, that's too much money
2-- can't you find cheaper?
3-- just the taxes would be how much?
4-- .... to be discovered.....

Any ideas on what future stages might be?

Great thread!!! :roflmao2:

Here are the stages of the first 50+ bike purchase IMHO:
1. Wow, I haven't ridden a bike in so long. I'm having so much fun on this borrowed bike!
2. I don't want one of those road bikes; don't the riders look silly in those tight clothes! Wonder how much a comfort/cruiser costs? I'm only going to ride a couple miles, maybe to the store and back.
3. This $300 retro-cruiser bike with the blue flowers is soooo cute! But I really like the one that costs $400... Honey, won't it be fun if we both got bikes?
4. Wow. Cycling is so much fun! I really like this.
5. Wow. Look at those road bikes zooming by.
6. These street clothes are giving me blisters on my hoo-hoo. Wow- those tight bike shorts have padding! Ahhh. This feels much better.
7. This &*^%$ bike rides like a pig.
8. Maybe I'll just test ride a road bike.
9. The $800 road bike feels pretty good. The carbon fiber is on sale for how much?
10. No thanks, I don't want to buy road bike shoes. They look so silly! Just put platforms on my new road bike and I'll keep riding in my tennies.
11. How much are those Sidis?

:innocent:

My stages: A Simple 3 step method

Ride the bike
Dicker on price
Plunk cash when we arrive at a mutually happy price.



No fuss, no muss

1) Check the ads in the Pennysaver, the Reader, and the local newspaper.
2) Cruise the yard sales.
3) Be patient and act cool and calm when you see something you like, such as a 1959 Capo for $25, talked shamelessly down to $20, or a Peugeot PKN-10, from $200 to $140.
4) A friend may give you a nice bike -- it has happened three times to me over the years.

It's really very simple.

1. I look at moderately priced bikes and tell the salesperson that's all I need.

2. Salesperson listens patiently, but sees my eyes drifting over to the more expensive bikes.

3. Salesperson shows me the expensive bike.

4. I buy the expensive bike.

My experience.

1. Go in to get fitted for a frame that pretty much would fit (Torelli Corsa) that was never built and three years old on sale.

2. Talk about bike usage, frame materials and components.

3. Look at Torelli frame (which should sorta fit, pending componentry)

4. Glance over to Moots strategically placed by fit bike and say "I want THAT."

1.) Beg
2.) Borrow
3.) Steel ('cause it's wrong to steal) :giver:

1. See bike
2. Want bike
3. Buy bike

1. Develop lust for an old bike that's impossible to find.
2. Enter search terms into eBay or Craigslist.
3. Bike magically appears; you cannot resist because (you tell yourself) it is the only one like it in the world.
4. Clear more space in the garage.

It might be nice to get a bike again.
Take a look at used bikes and maybe what the box store has on sale.
Check the Internet and decide to visit a LBS.
Seems like a lot more money than the box store but at least the owner/sales person seems to know about bikes.
Ride each kind of bike several times.
Discover that one bike will not do everything.
Finally drop the hammer on the bike that is the most comfortable and easy to ride.
The bike that takes too much time to get used to will be ridden less and has the best chance of staying in the garage.
Realize you may need another bike for mild dirt roads and fire trails.Start the process all over again.

See it

Buy it

Wonder if you could have got a better price

See it 25% lower at another shop.

Kick yourself.

Pay for last bike
Go get new bike
Start looking for next bike

See it
Ride it
Like it
Buy it
Maybe in six mounts own up to wife or husband how much it cost.

It's like a computer purchase:
1) Think I need new bike.
2) Shop for cool bikes
3) Find cool bike - do research (Consider all positive ratings as gospel - all negative ratings as nonsense)
4) Price new bike - adding Campy Record & Fulcrum wheels
5) Gasp at price - reduce to Campy Chorus & Mavic Wheels
6) Gasp at price - Shop for alternative
7) Find compromise
8) Buy compromise and add a few upgrades (Wheels, Saddle, etc)
9) See bike from #3&4 above
10) Kick self for compromise
11) Return to step 1

Great thread!!! :roflmao2:

Here are the stages of the first 50+ bike purchase IMHO:
1. Wow, I haven't ridden a bike in so long. I'm having so much fun on this borrowed bike!
2. I don't want one of those road bikes; don't the riders look silly in those tight clothes! Wonder how much a comfort/cruiser costs? I'm only going to ride a couple miles, maybe to the store and back.
3. This $300 retro-cruiser bike with the blue flowers is soooo cute! But I really like the one that costs $400... Honey, won't it be fun if we both got bikes?
4. Wow. Cycling is so much fun! I really like this.
5. Wow. Look at those road bikes zooming by.
6. These street clothes are giving me blisters on my hoo-hoo. Wow- those tight bike shorts have padding! Ahhh. This feels much better.
7. This &*^%$ bike rides like a pig.
8. Maybe I'll just test ride a road bike.
9. The $800 road bike feels pretty good. The carbon fiber is on sale for how much?
10. No thanks, I don't want to buy road bike shoes. They look so silly! Just put platforms on my new road bike and I'll keep riding in my tennies.
11. How much are those Sidis?

:innocent:

You nailed my own experience.

You could have a separate but related thread about bike clothing:
1. These cut-off shorts and tennys work fine.
2. Except now my feet are killing me and my hide is chapped.
3. OK, I'll get baggy shorts because the full lycra ones look gay.
4. And these inexpensive lace-up spin-class shoes should be fine.
5. Hm. Baggies still chap my hide after 30 miles. I'll try one pair of lycra shorts.
6. Much better except they sure are tight around my ever enlarging waist. Time for the bib shorts.
7. OK, I know the Sidis are expensive but I used my gift certificate to pay for (part of) them.
8. Did you know that bib shorts are perfect for wearing when you mow the lawn or work in the garden?

8. Did you know that bib shorts are perfect for wearing when you mow the lawn or work in the garden?

And other work in the garden- but you have to wear the full safety gear of helmet and goggles.

Sloth
Anger
Envy
Pain
Lust
Greed
Gluttony


Repeat.....

And other work in the garden- but you have to wear the full safety gear of helmet and goggles.

Ha ha!!

"How the heck do you shift gears on this newfangled bike?"

What number stage is "read the BikesDirect shill post on Bike Forums?" :)

1. Leave bike ad all over the house around birthday and Christmas.
2. Complain about current bike being old.
3. Wife ask "Do you want a new bik..
4. Me "YES and you're the best wife in the world":love:
5. New bike. :innocent:

I think we need to clarify which n+1 purchase we're talking about. Does n=0 or is it something much higher????

n=1

Hey Tru, our stories are very similar. Too funny!

It all began in the winter of 2007 when Hubby replaced the spokes and wheels on his '72 Schwinn Sport Tourer and wanted to start riding again.....

1. Hon, let's get a couple of bikes just to cruise around the neighborhood on weekends and supplement our walking routine.
2. There's "no way" I could ride a road bike... my neck and wrist would not tolerate that position.
3. $700 for a bike???:eek: Wow, bikes are more expensive than we thought.
4. Sure wish it was easier to go faster on this 35-pound hybrid that's too big for me... :o
5. These running shoes and jeans are fine, I don't need any fancy cycling shoes or pants.
6. Riding 50+ miles with the LAPD cycling team sure is fun, but it would be easier to keep up on a lighter bike.
7. Maybe my neck and wrist could tolerate a road bike after all, but clipless? Never!!
8. Ooooh, this Specialized Roubaix Expert Triple rides so smooth and feels so good........
9. But is it "too much bike" for me? :twitchy:
10. Estimating the 10s of 1000s I'd saved through the years with my frugal spending habits.
11. Sleeping on the decision for a week or so.
12. 5 bikes in the house -- this is nuts!!!
13. Amazing... my neck and wrist don't hurt at all!
14. Hmmmm.... considering going clipless, but I don't want to walk like a duck.
15. These rigid MTB shoes are killing my feet. Time to look for a comfortable pair of cycling shoes with recessed cleats.
16. Those Sidis cost HOW MUCH??!!??:eek::eek::eek:
17. Researching clipless pedals to go with my new Sidis.
18. Hmmmmm, I bet a mountain bike would be fun for those off-road trails................

1. What?
2.What the?
3. Hell NO!
4. Are you trippin!
5. That's a down payment for a mortgage.
6. JA JA JA, Oh really
7. mmh, its reasonable
8. Dude, its a bike!
9. Where is the engine?
10. I did not know 24K gold came in black.
11. Whoever buys this got to be smokin crack.
12. Crack and meth.
13. Does that include a yearly does of CERA?

Ha ha!!

"How the heck do you shift gears on this newfangled bike?"

Come on- Its a single speed offroader

me-Honey, I'm thinking about a new bike
her-What, your mountain bike is just fine you don't need a road bike.
me-Honey, you know if you had a road bike you could go a lot faster easier and Christmas is coming.
her- Hey, this road bike is really faster than my mountain bike, thank you dear
me- Hey Honey I can't keep up with you, I better get one of those road bikes too.
Her-I think you had this all planned
me- (acting like I didn't hear that) Huh?

I love this thread! Great reading. :popcorn

It went like this: 1. Received unexpected $$ = "Found Money" :). 2. Went right down to my favorite LBS & priced one of Bill Stevenson's custom frames built up with either Record or Chorus. 3. Concluded I really didn't want to spend so much on one bike. 4. Saw a hot looking Torelli with a Centaur/Daytona mix that just happened to be my size. 5. Took the Torelli out for a long ride around the Olympia, WA area. 6. Rode back to the shop and bought it. 7. Managed enough self control to ask for & get a couple of free stainless bottle cages with a discount on a new jersey and bib shorts.

Anticipation followed by Exhiliration!